Merri Jo Cowen joins exclusive group of industry leaders who have made newsworthy contributions to the real estate industry. Stellar MLS is pleased to announce that Stellar MLS CEO, Merri Jo Cowen has been selected as a RISMedia 2024 Real Estate Newsmaker—a dynamic group of key influencers making headlines as a result of their newsworthy contributions to the real estate industry and their efforts to positively affect the consumers and communities they serve. RISMedia , the leader in U.S. real estate news and information services, announced its 2024 Real Estate Newsmakers on Feb. 1, in both an online directory on RISMedia.com and in the February issue of its flagship publication, Real Estate magazine. RISMedia’s 2024 Real Estate Newsmakers were selected in 2023 by its executive and editorial teams and are showcased in the following categories: Influencers, Trailblazers, Futurists, Achievers, Crusaders, Luminaries and the annual Hall of Fame inductees. John Featherston, Founder, CEO and Publisher of RISMedia said, "We are so proud every year to recognize the hard work, dedication and determination of these finest industry professionals—the 2024 Real Estate Newsmakers—who went above and beyond in 2023 amid the challenges and opportunities of this evolving market. Help us in celebrating their hard-earned recognition," Featherston added. RISMedia will honor this year's Real Estate Newsmakers, including the 2024 Hall of Fame, at RISMedia's Newsmakers Reception & Dinner, being held Sept. 5 at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington, D.C., in conjunction with our 2024 CEO & Leadership Exchange . Stellar MLS CEO, Merri Jo Cowen shared, “I am deeply honored to be recognized as a 2024 RISMedia Newsmaker. This award is a testament to the dedication and innovation of the entire Stellar MLS team, as we work to make a meaningful impact in the continuously evolving real estate landscape. Looking to the future, we are filled with excitement about the opportunities that lie ahead for growth and transformation.” About Stellar MLS: Headquartered in Altamonte Springs, FL, Stellar MLS (Stellar) is Florida's largest Multiple Listing Service (MLS), with over 85,000 customers in Florida and Puerto Rico. Stellar MLS is committed to helping brokers and agents thrive in tomorrow's competitive real estate market by offering a comprehensive suite of the industry's best products and world-class customer service. Learn more at https://www.stellarmls.com/. About RISMedia For more than 40 years, RISMedia has provided the residential real estate industry with news, trends and business development strategies through its flagship publication, Real Estate magazine; its leading website, RISMedia.com; its premium content channel, Premier; its award-winning Housecall blog; and its iconic networking and educational events, including RISMedia’s virtual Real Estate’s Rocking in the New Year; RISMedia's CEO Exchange; RISMedia's Power Broker Forum, Reception & Dinner; and RISMedia’s Newsmakers Reception & Dinner. Through RISMedia's content programs—including ACE, a turn-key social media content system—real estate professionals share thousands of articles, infographics and videos each day created by RISMedia editors and contributors, helping them influence hundreds of thousands of consumers as they consider buying and/or selling a home. Visit RISMedia.com , RISMedia’s Premier, and ACESocial for more information. About RISMedia's Real Estate Newsmakers RISMedia's Real Estate Newsmakers is designed to recognize those individuals making headlines as a result of their newsworthy contributions to the residential real estate industry, and their efforts to positively affect real estate professionals and the consumers and communities they serve. RISMedia’s Real Estate Newsmakers were chosen based on nominations received through an online nomination process on RISMedia.com, and by nominations from RISMedia’s in-house editorial team and other industry sources. Nominations for RISMedia’s Real Estate Newsmakers are collected on an ongoing basis throughout the course of the year. There is no fee to nominate a Newsmaker or be recognized/featured as a Newsmaker. Due to deadline and production criteria, RISMedia’s 2024 Real Estate Newsmakers Online Directory may not currently be in its final format. Please check back for ongoing updates.

ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, FL / ACCESSWIRE / December 13, 2023 / Key members of the executive team of Stellar MLS, the largest multiple listing service in Florida and Puerto Rico, and the third-largest in the U.S., joined colleagues from around the globe at a forum in Paris, France to share best practices for driving innovation and efficiency in the real estate industry. Stellar MLS CEO Merri Jo Cowen, COO Shayne Fairley and Vice President of Technology & Innovation Mathew Kallumadil took part in the International MLS Forum: Global Real Estate Standards, Dec. 1-2, 2023 at the Pullman Montparnasse hotel in Paris, France. The event drew industry leaders from five continents and more than 35 countries and featured panels exploring the 100-year legacy of MLSs in the U.S. and the potential for international real estate markets; benefits of standardized data; innovation and tech trends empowering brokers and agents; and investment opportunities in emerging MLS markets. Cowen moderated a discussion on the "Benefits of Standardized Data Sets to Public and Private Institutions" and noted that "while there are many differences in real estate markets from country to country, there are many commonalities we can bring together to help create an ecosystem that works in each unique environment and bring the value of the MLS to them." The forum was an opportunity for real estate professionals from across the globe to hear best practices from successful U.S.-based MLSs. "In Europe, the difference in transacting real estate is startling - from the lack of consolidated and accurate databases to the way brokers conduct business," Cowen said, and pointed to how CEPI, the European Association of Real Estate Professions, is working to elevate industry professionalism and knowledge among its member countries. "Getting to know European leaders and learn about their individual countries was invaluable," Cowen added. "The network created by attending was invaluable, and the opportunities to help the global market move toward organized real estate and data standards are exciting." Fairley, who participated in a panel titled "Investment Opportunities in Emerging MLS Markets," said the forum provided a unique opportunity to showcase the value of the MLS and the importance of accurate data to empower real estate professionals. "The conference was timely in that the desire to make a change in the European market was evident and Stellar MLS was able to demonstrate our willingness to collaborate to assist these new markets," Fairley said. "Stellar MLS is in a unique position to elevate real estate beyond the bounds of North America, with a long legacy of operating a successful MLS, with far-reaching partnerships and data shares, and with our track record of customer service excellence. We will be ready when Europe is." Kallumadil, who presented in two technology-focused discussions, said the conference highlighted that the biggest challenge for some European markets is not technology or data, but the mindset of real estate professionals about changing their current operating methods. "It is critical to educate real estate professionals on the benefits of collaboration and data standards and opening up the doors to the largest asset class for innovation," Kallumadil said. "There is a general global desire to adopt a real estate infrastructure comparable to organized real estate in North America, and this forum gave us the opportunity to discuss details with key stakeholders in the European market about their unique challenges." Other speakers included: Joe Schneider, government affairs director, North Bay Association of REALTORS®; Ali Attar, CEO and co-founder of Realtyna, a software solutions provider for the real estate industry; Brad Inman, founder, Inman Group; Jan Borůvka, president, CEPI, the European Association of Real Estate Professions; Sam DeBord, CEO, Real Estate Standards Organization; and Patrick Pichette, vice president, Canadian Real Estate Association and director, RESO. For information, visit https://mlsforum.org/ . About Stellar MLS Stellar MLS is a technology-backed real estate service company that provides customers access to trusted, standardized data. Stellar MLS is the largest multiple listing service in the state of Florida and in Puerto Rico, and the third-largest in the U.S. With more than 84,000 customers and a dynamic vision, Stellar MLS is poised to help brokers and their agents thrive in tomorrow's competitive real estate market with a comprehensive suite of the industry's best products and world-class customer service. Stellar MLS makes the market work for real estate agents and brokers in 20 REALTOR® associations throughout Central and Southwest Florida and in Puerto Rico.